Quasi-periodic propagating disturbances (PDs) are ubiquitous in polar coronal holes on the Sun. It remains unclear as to what generates PDs. In this work, we investigate how the PDs are generated in the solar atmosphere by analyzing a four-hour data set taken by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory. We find convincing evidence that spicular activities in the solar transition region, as seen in the AIA 304 Å passband, are responsible for PDs in the corona as revealed in the AIA 171 Å images. We conclude that spicules are an important source that triggers coronal PDs.

Aims. Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) jets situated in coronal holes are thought to play an important role in supplying heated material to the corona and solar wind. The multi-wavelength capabilities and high signal-to-noise ratio of detectors on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) allow for detailed study of these jets' evolution. We aim to exploit SDO's capabilities to reveal information on the jet dynamics and to obtain estimates for plasma properties associated with the jets. Methods. We studied the dynamics of an EUV jet with SDO at a coronal hole boundary. The details of the jet evolution are discussed and measurements of the jet's parameters, e.g. length, width, life time, and outward speed, are obtained. Furthermore, automated emission measure analysis is exploited to determine estimates for the temperature and density of the jet. A propagating transverse wave supported by the jet spire is also observed. Measurements of the wave properties are exploited for magneto-seismology and are used in conjunction with the emission measure results to estimate the magnetic field strength of the jet.Results. We present a detailed description of the jet's evolution, with new evidence of plasma flows, prior to the jet's initiation, along the loops at the base of the jet and also find further evidence that flows along the jet spire consist of multiple, quasi-periodic smallscale plasma ejection events. In addition, spectroscopic analysis reveal that the jet has temperatures of log 5.89 ± 0.08 K and electron densities of log 8.75 ± 0.05 cm −3 . Measured properties of the transverse wave provide evidence that a strong damping of the wave occurs as it propagates along the jet spire with speeds of ∼110 km s −1 . The magneto-seismological inversion of the wave parameters provides values of B = 1.21 ± 0.2 G along the jet spire, which is in line with previous estimates for open fields in coronal holes.

Corona structures and processes during the pre-impulsive stage of solar eruption are crucial to understanding the physics leading to the subsequent explosive energy release. Here we present the first microwave imaging study of a hot flux rope structure during the pre-impulsive stage of an eruptive M7.7 solar flare, with the Nobeyama Radioheliograph at 17 GHz. The flux rope is also observed by the SDO/AIA in its hot passbands of 94 and 131 Å. In the microwave data, it is revealed as an overall arcade-like structure consisting of several intensity enhancements bridged by generally weak emissions, with brightness temperatures (T B ) varying from ∼10,000 K to ∼20,000 K. Locations of microwave intensity enhancements along the structure remain relatively fixed at certain specific parts of the flux rope, indicating that the distribution of emitting electrons is affected by the large-scale magnetic configuration of the twisted flux rope. Wavelet analysis shows a pronounced 2 minute period of the microwave T B variation during the pre-impulsive stage of interest. The period agrees well with that reported for AIA sunwardcontracting loops and upward ejective plasmoids (suggested to be reconnection outflows). This suggests that both periodicities are controlled by the same reconnection process that takes place intermittently at a 2 minute timescale. We infer that at least a part of the emission is excited by non-thermal energetic electrons via the gyro-synchrotron mechanism. The study demonstrates the potential of microwave imaging in exploring the flux rope magnetic geometry and relevant reconnection process during the onset of solar eruption.

The Sun Watcher using Active Pixel system detector and Image Processing(SWAP) on board the PRoject for OnBoard Autonomy -2 (PROBA -2) spacecraft provides images of the solar corona in EUV channel centered at 174Å. These data, together with Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), are used to study the dynamics of coronal bright points. The evolution of the magnetic polarities and associated changes in morphology are studied using magnetograms and multi-wavelength imaging. The morphology of the bright points seen in low-resolution SWAP images and high-resolution AIA images show different structures, whereas the intensity variations with time show similar trends in both SWAP 174 and AIA 171 channels. We observe that bright points are seen in EUV channels corresponding to a magnetic-flux of the order of 10 18 Mx. We find that there exists a good correlation between total emission from the bright point in several UV -EUV channels and total unsigned photospheric magnetic flux above certain thresholds. The bright points also show periodic brightenings and we have attempted to find the oscillation periods in bright points and their connection to magnetic flux changes. The observed periods are generally long (10 -25 minutes) and there is an indication that the intensity oscillations may be generated by repeated magnetic reconnection.

Context. High spatial-and temporal-resolution images of coronal hole regions show a dynamical environment where mass flows and jets are frequently observed. These jets are believed to be important for the coronal heating and the acceleration of the fast solar wind. Aims. We studied the dynamics of two jets seen in a polar coronal hole with a combination of imaging from EIS and XRT onboard Hinode. We observed drift motions related to the evolution and formation of these small-scale jets, which we tried to model as well. Methods. Stack plots were used to find the drift and flow speeds of the jets. A toymodel was developed by assuming that the observed jet is generated by a sequence of single reconnection events where single unresolved blobs of plasma are ejected along open field lines, then expand and fall back along the same path, following a simple ballistic motion. Results. We found observational evidence that supports the idea that polar jets are very likely produced by multiple small-scale reconnections occurring at different times in different locations. These eject plasma blobs that flow up and down with a motion very similar to a simple ballistic motion. The associated drift speed of the first jet is estimated to be ≈27 km s −1 . The average outward speed of the first jet is ≈171 km s −1 , well below the escape speed, hence if simple ballistic motion is considered, the plasma will not escape the Sun. The second jet was observed in the south polar coronal hole with three XRT filters, namely, C − poly, Al − poly, and Al − mesh filters. Many small-scale (≈3 −5 ) fast (≈200−300 km s −1 ) ejections of plasma were observed on the same day; they propagated outwards. We observed that the stronger jet drifted at all altitudes along the jet with the same drift speed of 7 km s −1 . We also observed that the bright point associated with the first jet is a part of sigmoid structure. The time of appearance of the sigmoid and that of the ejection of plasma from the bright point suggest that the sigmoid is the progenitor of the jet. Conclusions. The enhancement in the light curves of low-temperature EIS lines in the later phase of the jet lifetime and the shape of the jet's stack plots suggests that the jet material falls back, and most likely cools down. To further support this conclusion, the observed drifts were interpreted within a scenario where reconnection progressively shifts along a magnetic structure, leading to the sequential appearance of jets of about the same size and physical characteristics. On this basis, we also propose a simple qualitative model that mimics the observations.